I think it is pointless because many of the similarly-phrased comments (not just yours) appear to be implying that the Walmart announcement is meaningless to everyone, since (by their assertion) no Walmart anywhere has ever carried HD DVD. My point is that that assertion is simply not true. Since I can go into two Walmart stores within a couple of miles of my home and see both formats plentifully available on the shelves, the announcement does have merit. That is all.

I think you mean death knell, not death nail.

Maybe with one format, Walmart will make more of an effort to promote HD.

I don't shop their too often, but out of the several stores I've been to, only one had that aisle display with HD DVD on one side and Blu-Ray on the other. They definitely have lots of room for improvement.

I think they honestly will promote better with one format. Their customers and employees probably had no idea which one to get or recommend respectively. Now at least there will only be one option for them. Hence, less returns, confusion, explanations, etc.

But yeah, HD-DVD is almost to the point where you can stick a fork in them. The two biggest B&M's and the biggest online rental service has ousted them this week alone. The future isn't pretty for HD-DVD lovers.

Look in the PS3 display case.

This is true and a fact I can confirm with at least two locations in our suburbs. The Walmart on Lake Cook Road in Buffalo Grove did not have any HD media until perhaps mid-January. Once they put a stack of BR before Christmas and then they took it off.

I don't know what location you are referring to and what state in particular but it is not to be dismissed as a lie that Walmart locations in certain areas have not been promoting HD media.

This being said, I believe that this is very big news and one that will also affect pricing after the lower-end BR models are introduced this summer.

Pro-B

It is completely irrelevant whether one's local Wal-Mart EVER sold any HD DVD's or Blu-Ray DVD's!

What is totally relevant is the fact that EVERYBODY recognizes the name Wal-Mart, most importantly the average American consumer recognizes the name Wal-Mart. And, when Wal-Mart, unarguably the largest retailer in the world, announces that they no longer are going to support HD DVD, that is news that will be noticed!

I think we take for granted that because we all, us DVD 'enthusiasts', follow the DVD industry down to the smallest minutia, that our knowledge is also common knowledge. This is simply not true.

When 'Joe Blow' hears that Wal-Mart is dropping HD DVD, there will be repercussions. This information is way beyond the importance of any studio dropping their support of HD DVD to the average consumer.

George -bub

Maybe I missed something, but has anyone dismissed these reports as lies? I certainly didn't. All I did was point out that it is inaccurate to use them as evidence of a company-wide policy or to suggest that, because some stores don't promote the products, the announcement is meaningless.

You referred to his post as pointless and I believe that the majority of it actually has merit. He isn't lying to deflate the news, though he sees it differently than you and I (and I see the difference between lying and pointless but even though you came back to clarify what you meant your statement goes directly against what he said - that Walmart locations were not carrying the two formats. As far as the Chicago land area is concerned stores do not carry HD media even as of today and he has a point).

With this in mind I always thought that if there was a representable data that would have showed us how many Walmart locations were carrying HD prior to Christmas the numbers between "selling" and "not-selling". would have been pretty equally split. Thus, I never bought the argument about "real" sales and the data provided by Nielsen. I thought that at best HD media sales via Walmart are well within the margin of error, at least until the Holiday season, and sales charts were reflecting the market quite accurately.

In any event the poster we addressed indicates that this exclusivity move isn't news, I agree with you that it is significant news and perhaps one of the last ones that would actually matter. From this point on any further announcements will be a residual effect of what has taken place since the Warner move (including distribs switching allegiances, Amazon eventually changing their stance, and/or more retailers and studios joining the Blu family).

Pro-B

Suck? I've been picking up new releases on BR like Across the Universe and Gone Baby Gone for $25. Everywhere else around here --Target, Best Buy, Hastings-- they're $30 or more.

My use of the word pointless was only meant to indicate that, regardless of the validity of his report that the stores in his area were never carrying the discs, it doesn't affect the weight of the announcement.

I would liken it to a bad call in a sporting event (I'll use tennis, since I am a big tennis fan). If a line judge makes a bad 'out' call, and the result is that the player loses the match, it is pointless to belabor the bad call. It doesn't make it a lie to bring up the bad call, but it isn't going to change the outcome of the match.

In this case, I think it is pointless to belabor the fact (which we've all known for a long time) that many Walmart stores never carried either format. The fact remains that many did, and this is what makes the announcement significant. If even only 50% of Walmart and Sam's Club locations carried the products, that is still 2000 stores that are affected.

With Walmart on the BD bandwagon, hopefully this quells the lies that BD standalones are going to remain at 500 dollars forever (according to some).

Yeah, hate to break it to you but $25 sucks.

It also occurs to me that with the announcement, maybe many of the Walmart locations that haven't carried either format will now be stepping up and promoting Blu-ray.

Not to me. I was an early adopter for DVD, so paying $30 was not an uncommon experience, and that was in 1997 dollars. $25 will soon become $22, and the $20, and then $17.99.

Give it time.

Wow, that's surprising. All the Wally Worlds I checked out over the holidays in the Middle Tn area had HD media. (I agree that this is bad news for HD-DVD. I guess at this point I will stop buying HD-DVD's.)


I guess us rednecks down yonder is fitna be known as rabble-rousers again. Bein' as usuns'r ahead of the curve and all! Hyuk, Hyuk!

Let's please not get in the habit of calling other posters "liars".

Wal*Mart and their inventory influence how consumers will view HD and if BD is the only format available for purchase, then that's what will be purchased by their customers (and they have more than just a few ). I have heard staggering numbers as to how much Wal*Mart moves in inventory on a daily basis and a prominent display of BD will have impact.

Nevermind that their HD inventory was lacking to date, I think this signifies a shift in their commitment to the medium.

This is the path to the average consumer who may be confused about the format and who may still find it cost prohibitive. I think this move will change prices on entry-level BD models (and more choice) & HD will soon find precious shelf space at Wal*Mart.

BTW, excellent news!

I honestly don't remember anyone here saying prices would be $500 forever -- especially since they're currently starting around $350-400. I do think it's fairly reasonable to think prices will stay at the current level for a while, though. However, as with all new technology, as it matures and becomes less expensive to produce, the price to consumers will eventually come down.

Seriously, I don't think anyone is really debating that fact. What people can't agree on is the time frame in which it'll happen. That's what is pure speculation for anyone right now.

There is no speculation!!! There WILL be players for under $200 by CHRISTMAS!!!! I HAVE FORESEEN IT!!!!1!1!!









But won't it be cool if there are?

Ha ha ha -- totally. Put me down for three of them!

In all seriousness, I do believe that someone will step up to the plate and offer a player with at least a street price (if not an MSRP) of under $250 by the fall. Whether it will be 1.1 or 2.0 I have no idea, but that will be the subject of many more debates, I think.

Bill Hunt? Is that you??

I kid, I kid. I hope you are right

Bill Hunt's actual reaction to the Wal-Mart news:

As long as he gets a paycheck.